Handbook on USSR Military Forces: Chapter III, Field Organization

Transcription

1 University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln DOD Military ntelligence U.S. Department of Defense Handbook on USSR Military Forces: Chapter, Field Organization War Department (USA) Robert L. Bolin, Depositor University of Nebraska-Lincoln, rbolin2@unl.edu Follow this and additional works at: War Department (USA) and Bolin, Robert L., Depositor, "Handbook on USSR Military Forces: Chapter, Field Organization" (946). DOD Military ntelligence This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the U.S. Department of Defense at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. t has been accepted for inclusion in DOD Military ntelligence by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln.

2 Technical Manual, TM , March 946 Handbook on USSR Military Forces Chapter, Field Organization Robert L. Bolin, Depositor University of Nebraska-Lincoln,

3 Technical Manual, TM , Chapter, March 946 Handbook on USSR Military Forces Chapter, Field Organization War Department Washington, DC Comments The copy digitized was borrowed from the Marshall Center Research Library, APO, AE Abstract TM , Handbook on USSR Military Forces, was published in installments to expedite dissemination to the field. TM30-430, Chapter, March 946, Field Organization, contains detailed descriptions of the organization of various types of units in the armed forces. The text is further illuminated by numerous tables of organization and equipment. This manual is listed in WorldCat under Accession Number: OCLC: A Note on Scholarly Usage Since revised editions of Army manuals are customarily issued with the same manual number and title as the previous editions, the minimal scholarly citation must contain the date of issue. The minimum unambiguous citation for this chapter is TM , Chapter, March 946.

4 TECHNCAL MANUAL TM CHAPTER HANDBOOK ON U. S. S. R. MLTARY FORCES TM is being published in installaments to expedite dissemination to the field. should be inserted in the loose-leaf binder furnished with Chapter V, November 945. These chapters WAR DEPARTMENT WASHNGTON 25, D. C., March 946 TM , Handbook on U. S. S. R. Military Forces, is published for the information and guidance of all concerned. [AG (8 Oct 45)] By ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR: OFFCAL: EDWARD F. WTSELL Major General The Adjutant General DWGHT D. ESENHOWER Chief of Staff DSTRBUTON: AGF (80); ASF (2); T (0); Arm & Sv Bd (); S Div ASF (). Refer to FM 2-6 for explanation of distribution formula.

5 Mar 46 TM CHAPTER FELD ORGANZATONS TABLE OF CONTENTS NTRODUCTON..... Prewar.Field Organiza tions Underlying Factors in Modification of the Organization of the Red Army, 9 H Results of Reorganization Probable Future Trends Section. ARMY GROUPS, ARMES, AND CORPS..... Army Group (Front)..., Armies,, Corps.... Section. ORGANZATON OF THE GROUND ARMS..... ntroduction nfantry Armored and Mechanized Forces. 4. Artillery Cavalry.... Section. TECHNCAL SERVCES.. ntroduction Engineer Signal Chemical Warfare Service Maintenance Medical and Veterinary Service.... Appendix.... List of llustrations Figure. Table of Organization and Equipment of the principal field units of the Red Army Cbanges in strength and equipment of tbe Rifle Division Rifle Division.... Page -l JT J J-29 J Page Figure 4. Division Artillery Regiment or 57-mm Antitank Gun Battalion Rifle Regiment _ Guards Rifle Regiment..., 8. Rifle Battalion Tank Corps Tank Brigade.... ll. Motorized Rifle Brigade Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment Heavy Self-Propelled Regiment Tank Destroyer Artillery Regiment( Towed). 5. Reconnaissance Battalion Motorcycle Battalion Mechanized Corps Tank Regiment Artillery Division Antiaircraft Artillery Division Light Artillery Brigade, Motorized Light Howitzer Brigade Medium Gun Brigade mm Mortar Brigade mm Gun Regiment, Motorized mm Mortar Regiment Rocket Regiment mm Antiaircraft Automatic Weapons Regiment...., mm Antiaircraft Artillery Regiment mm Howitzer Regiment, Motorized Medium Gun Regiment mm Gun Battalion, Motorized mm Gun-Howitzer Battalion, Motorized Cavalry Corps Cavalry Division Cavalry Regiment...., Red Army maintenance services.... Page- -9 l-lo S -S ' ill-

6 Mar 46 TM CHAPTER FELD ORGANZATONS NTRODUCTON. PREWAR FELD ORGANZATONS mmediately prior to the outbreak of the war with Germany, the highest active field organization in the Red Army was the military district. Each military district was responsible for the administrative, mobilization, and command functions of its specific geographic area. The Finnish War, for example, was conducted by the Leningrad Military District. The highest tactical organization of the military district was the corps. The rifle corps consisted of headquarters, three to four rifle divisions, one or two regiments of corps artillery, an antiaircraft artillery group, a signal battalion, a chemical warfare battalion, an air reconnaissance squadron, and various service units, all making a total of 60,000 to 65,000 men. The cavalry corps included headquarters, two to three cavalry divisions, a howitzer regiment, a mechanized brigade, an engineer and a signal battalion, and service troops, totaling about 20,000 men. The moto-mechanized corps, then still in the experimental stage, comprised headquarters, two mechanized brigades, a motorized infantry machine gun brigade, an engineer company, a chemical warfare company, a flight of reconnaissance aircraft, and minor service units, totaling about 2,000 troops. The principal ground formations were the- rifle, cavalry, and artillery divisions, and the moto-mechanized and the tank brigades. The rifle division consisted of headquarters, three rifle regiments, two artillery regiments (a mixed fitld artillery and a howitzer regiment), a reconnaissance, a light tank, an antitank, an engineer, a signal, and a medical battalion, an antiaircraft machine gun company, a field hospital, and services (figs. and 2). The cavalry division included headquarters, four horse cavalry regiments, one mechanized cavalry regiment, a mixed artillery regiment, an engineer squadron, a signal group, an air reconnaissance squadron, and service units. The strength of a cavalry division was 7,000 men. t had 64 light tanks and 6 armored cars. ts principal weapons consisted of sixteen 76-mm guns, eight 22-mm howitzers and sixteen 76-mm howitzers, and eight 45- mm and 37-mm antitank guns. Four artillery divisions were reported. Their organization was believed to be as follows: headquarters, one light artillery regiment, two heavy artillery regiments, one antiaircraft artillery regiment, and various services. The moto-mechanized brigade consisted of headquarters, three tank battalions, a reconnaissance battalion, an infantry battalion, a motorized artillery battalion, a troop transport battalion, special troops, and services. ts strength was 3,300 men. s principal armament consisted of twelve 76-mm guns, one hundred and sixty light and medium (lo-ton) tanks, nineteen tankettes, and tweny-four armored cars. The tank brigade consisted of headquarters, three tank battalions of heavier tanks (T28 and T35), and a security battalion which was comprised of a signal company, an engineer company, an antiaircraft machine gun company, a traffic control company, and a brigade park. 2. UNDERLYNG FACTORS N MODFCATON OF THE ORGANZATON OF THE RED ARMY, The factors which influenced changes in organization of the Red Army units and formations included: combat lessons learned in the Finnish War and the war with Germany, initial weakness and subsequent growth of the officers' corps, necessity to halt the advance of the German Army, huge losses of personnel and materiel in 94, decreased output of factories in the early years of the war, and subsequent abundance of materiel. The war with Finland proved several things to the Soviet high command. t showed that the -

7 Unit?: -< o R Corps_ R Div_ k Corps_ M('(z Corps Mt7. t Brig"" Tk Bri"""""" Cay Corps_ Arty Div" AAA Div L Arty Bri!,:_" L low Brig""""""""" Mrdium G Brig._ 20"illill Mort Brig" Rkt RegL 02,400 9,!i9 ", ,457 :l,2:l8,306 8,720 9,74:l 2,043 2 (l{)3 2: 242 2,28, Pi' " w.o -<" sc,) 3-< d. <0 r-:, w 3 El i?j :;s >- El ---,--, --, ----";----,- o :>. El <0 o < -< El ;::l p:; E-< -< El 3 J, t: 3 El - o :>. 3.:; < -"'---',--,-,-,"---,--, O -< -< C:E-< < 3 o -< -< , o 3 3 o 3 3 d. El El r-: l l 00 l '" "? p puj 00 co "'" :s: E-<WUl -< -< E-< 8 8 rh '" ' \ ' l l_. ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' 9,200 5,426 7,80 O,09S,707 fi92 2,234 7,!07,.4,772, 892, :!9{), :l ,775 2,398 2,9(\3, 900 9[) ,75, :l l:l5 04,64" 40" 522 la : a5 25 l:l :l 750 S 28 M :l H :l los x: H H ""' 08 6!G : r,o is El S4 """" 24 """" 2 """" """" """" '""""'""""'"""" """- 24 > """"'""""'"", 24 8 E-< "' 3 El 3 S Lb.- C:l d2 '" ",P<,"OJ C,) OOCC l. "C C,) 00 '" e " """ """" """ "_"" """" :l " "2()" "2()" 4 f8 ""2" """ 65 """_ """" 3 """" """"""" "2" :::: """" """" """" """"" """" """" """" """" 6 """" """" """"" """"" """" """" """" 8 72 """"" """" """" """" """" "" """" """" """" ,336, , loa g ;; D i2, 830 5,39 60,773, :6 4, :l " ':il :loo ! Q Figure. Table of Organizatioll and f'quipmellt of the principal field units of the Red Army. Date 3 Sept 939_ 6 Apr 94L 29 July 9. 6 Dec 94L" 8 Mar 942_ 28 July Dec 942""" 2 Dec 942 Guards Div"" June 944-May 945 " 0:;s 3 "-< El N< -..3 <OwO,-.: S_El_S_S_So -,--,-- ' 0 ssoss "' C,) "" SolSO SOl S So *;;S *'" ;;: :;s,:.:;sg;;s;;s.:. o:ll >-.a ':il e 7 '0 o ;;S a; '0-< UJ """' C" S E-< >- t!.< < lq OC) Ct: t -- rl... ::E < E-t E-- l "" "" '" i "- -" """6508,98,847, _"" """"_"""_""" ,77 6,20340 """ 792 3,662 4,4.4 2,38,95 392f)O 33 " """ """ 30 """" , """"""" 465 0,225 0,790 0, tlO 797 2, ,236,907 0, :l 868 2, ,084 2, """" """" ,858 8 """""" - 0,566 8, """" """" """" , """""" " 9,447 5,49 2, """" """" """" , "" """ 0,5.6 5,984 2, """" """" """" , """"" " """ 9,69 5,426 2, """" """" """" , D Figure 2. Changes in strength and equipment of the Rifle Division ,... Ql.,

8 Mar 46 organization of higher tactical units was too unwieldly, and that a generous allotment of armor, technical services, and arms to the rifle divisions often resulted in the needless dilution of these reinforcements. The dispersal of these special units along the entire front made difficult the concentration of armor, artillery, engineers and other technical arms and services in a decisive sector. Thus, the major changes i.n organization-such as the reduction in size of the rifle division, and the concentrati.on of special and technical forces in GHQ unitswere initiated in April 94. Although these changes were retarded and modified by other factors, they were carried out during the first 2 years of the war with Germany. As a result of rapid expansion of the field forces, and initial heavy losses of officer personnel, many Red Army formations in 94 were commanded by officers inadequately trained to employ efficiently the many specialized arms, services, and heavy weapons assigned to their formations. The lack of a sufficient number of adequately trained officers necessitated the creation of manageable units which could be commanded by men of common sense and strong character, but lacking in highly specialized training. The command of heavy weapons, for example, could not be entrusted to the officers then in command. As a result, most infantry heavy weapons, and many specialized arms and services from infantry, cavalry, and armored formations, were withdrawn and made independent. This reorganization not only placed specialized arms and services under competent leadership, but also effected considerable economy of equipment and personnel. Reduction in size of the field units, and simplification of their organization, simplified logistical problems and made these units more efficient even when commanded by inexperienced officers. During the early years of the war, the Soviet high command was primarily concerned with halting the German advance. This necessitated the activation of new units and the reorganization of depleted units when sufficient time could not be allotted for the training of large formations. Simultaneously, Soviet industry was redeploying to the east, curtailing or stopping production of some items of armament and equipment. These factors resulted in the formation of a large number of rifle, tank. and mechanized brigades instead of divisions, and in the creation of emergency organizations such as TM the marine rifle brigades and workers brigades and battalions. During the first year of the war, a great mixture of organizations existed. Side by side in the surviving regular divisions were reserve and emergency organizations of varying size and composition. Much of their armament was obsolete. 3. RESULTS OF REORGANZATON The developments in the organization of units were carried out logically, quickly, and thoroughly, as were all other combat lessons which the Russians learned, and adapted to their own use, during the war. An increasing number of re-equipped, fully manned, and trained units appeared in the winter of and, especially, after July 943. The outlines of a new Red Army organization, its basic doctrines of 94 considerably modified by combat experience, were generally clear in the winter of Since 94, the major modifications in ground organizations have been toward increasing the mobility and fire power of the rifle, cavalry, and armored units and formations; the centralizing of supporting arms and services, and their groupment into independent units. Basic units with standard Tables of Organization have become the foundation for a wide range of temporary combat groupings of basic and specialized arms and services, as prescribed by tactical requirements. Army Groups (Fronts have superseded the military districts as the main planning and administrative agencies under the Supreme Command. This change was anticipated in the Soviet theory and training doctrines as early as 934. Military districts are maintained in rear areas only, where they perform the special missions of local security, troop mobilization and training, and control of traffic and supplies. Armies superseded corps in controlling combined operations, handling administration for, and servicing their component formations and units. The organization of rifle corps was changed several times. During the retreat of the Red Army, the rifle corps were eliminated. Armies controlled the rifle divisions directly. During subsequent offensive operations, the rifle corps reappeared as the forward headquarters for tactical control of rifle divisions. During the last year of the war, rifle corps became a more permanent organization. The rifle corps lost an antiaircraft artillery battalion and a chemical warfare company. t gained a tank -3

9 TM destroyer artillery regiment and a rocket battalion or regiment. The cavalry corps became a powerful, balanced team. ts light howitzer regiment was replaced by a more mobile heavy mortar regiment. t gained a self-propelled artillery regirpent, an antiaircraft automatic weapons regiment, and a rocket battalion. The moto-mechanized corps disappeared. n its place, two new organizations, the tank corps and the mechanized corps, were developed. The tank corps consists primarily of tanks supported by motorized infantry. The mechanized corps consists primarily of motorized infantry supported by tanks. Both the tank and the mechanized corps are supported by powerful organic artillery comprised of self-propelled, tank destroyer, mortar, antiaircraft, and rocket units. Artillery corps, controlling several artillery divisions reinforced by independent brigades and regiments, appeared in 944. Four artillery corps were identifier! in the spring of 945. The rifle division has been drastically reduced in strength. n April 94, it was reduced from 8,84 to 4,454 officers and enlisted men. ts basic size of approximately 0,000 was determined in July 94. The reduction in size was accomplished by eliminating the light tank battalion, the howitzer artillery regiment, and the mechanized reconnaissance elements, and by a reduction in the size of service units. The divisional hospital, for example, was taken over by the army. At the same time, the forward fire power of the rifle division has been increased by a generous allotment to the rifle regiments of submachine guns, machine guns, and mortars. Thus, the 945 rifle division, as compared with the 939 rifle division, has a reduced reconnaissance ability and weaker replacement capacity, but it has better tactical and strategic mobility. With normal artillery attachment, it has greater fire power. Artillery divisions have greatly increased in number and size. They now include 24 to 30 firing battalions, organized into brigades and regiments. The number, type, and caliber of weapons in the component brigades and regiments are determined by the mission of the division. Cavalry divisions lost a mechanized and a horse regiment. Mortars, submachine guns, and antitank rifles, however, have been introduced in large number, increasing the forward fire power of the division and improving its local antitank and antiaircraft defense. Mar 46 The mechanized and motorized infantry machine gun brigades were discontinued. The mechanized brigade (formerly called moto-mechanized) tank strength has been reduced to 40 medium tanks, and its reconnaissance battalion to a company. t is now a balanced team of motorized infantry, tanks, and supporting artillery. The tank brigade has been better balanced. A great many artillery brigades, both independent and as parts of artillery divisions, have appeared. 4. PROBABLE FUTURE TRENDS The indications of future trends discussed below are based on fragmentary information and represent possible developments. The speed with which these changes are likely to take place will vary considerably between the various arms and services. Tactical units of the Red Army were evolved during the course of the war with Germany and have been proved in combat. Basic changes in the organization of infantry and cavalry divisions, and of tank and mechanized corps, are not expected. However, the development of new weapons, and improvements on existing models, will lead to adjustments within the frameworks of standard organizations. Some of the weapons which will influence changes in Tables of Organization of the Soviet ground formations include the new 00-mm highvelocity gun, the 60-mm heavy mortar, powerful light antitank and antiaircraft weapons for infantry and cavalry, and increases in caliber of self-propelled artillery, rockets, and guided missiles. Reduction in the size of the army, elimination of combat losses of specialized equipment and personnel, plus ample time for production of necessary equipment and training of specialists, will make it possible to increase the quality of technicians within the standard units of the Red Army. An increase in the number of specialized GHQ units may also be expected. t is not expected that signal, ordnance, motor maintenance, medical, and engineer units will be larger. t is not anticipated that motorization will be effected in infantry and cavalry formations and units. There may be slight increase in the number of organic motor vehicles. Although airborne troops were not used on a large scale during the war with Germany, it is expected that further development of this arm will be stressed. Together with the growth of the airborne arm, the Red Army will improve the training and equipment of airdrome engineers. There is evidence that the engineer arm will be- D-4

10 Mar 46 come more independent, and that large engineer units such as divisions and brigades may be organized. a. nfantry and cavalry. Future changes in over-all organization of infantry and cavalry units and formations will probably be conservative. However, certain changes within the larger framework may be expected. For example, persistent though unconfirmed reports in the winter of have mentioned motorized rifle divisions with tanks (in 94 the Red Army had two motorized rifle divisions which were later disbanded). t is likely that the antitank rifle will be replaced by a light, powerful, rocket-type or recoilless weapon. Antiaircraft defense of front-line troops may be augmented by light rocket-firing devices. The fire power of the rifle battalion will be increased by substitution of 57- mm antitank guns for the 45-mm antitank guns and by increasing the number of battalion 82-mm mortars from nine to twelve. The 50-mm company mortar will be eliminated. Regimental artillery will probably undergo changes. The regimental 20-mm mortar battery may have four instead of seven mortars. The antitank battery may have six 76-mm guns instead of six 45-mm antitank guns. i is likely that the divisional artillery of both the rifle and the cavalry divisions will have a heavy mortar unit and a second 22-mm to 52-mm howitzer-artillery regiment, by attachment if not organically. The present artillery regiment already has been strengthened, and will be used in RCT role. h. Artillery. There probably will be a marked difference between corps artillery and artillery of the higher formations (armies, Fronts, and -GHQ) in type of weapons, and in their employment. Corps artillery probably will continue to be organized into brigades and regiments, and will absorb most of the light and medium artillery which is at present controlled by higher formations. t will be used for direct support of ground operations. Newly developed weapons, such as long-range rockets, guided missiles, super long-range guns, and the present heavy artillery (made for the most part self-propelled), will be organized into artillery corps, divisions, brigades, and independent regiments. Control of these units will be retained by the High Command, which will assign them to Fronts and armies for special long-range missions. The new 60-mm mortar gradually will replace the 20-mm mortar in mortar regiments and brigades. t is expected that tank destroyer artillery units will be TM armed to an increasing extent with self-propelled weapons, probably the new 00-mm guns. c. Tanks. At the end of the war with Germany, the proportion of heavy to medium tanks in the Red Army was approximately to 5. t is believed that the intention is to increase the number of heavy tanks, and to manufacture light reconnaissance tanks so that the ratio of medium, heavy, and light tanks will be 4 to 3 to. n order to maintain such a ratio, and at the same time preserve logistical requirements of the present tank corps, some adjustment in the structure of the tank brigades will be necessary. A possible organization of the tank components of the tank corps will be as follows: reconnaissance battalion with 25 light tanks, and three tank brigades with four medium tank companies of 0 medium tanks each and four heavy tank companies of 5 heavy tanks each (plus 3 headquarters tanks). Such a tank corps would have a total of 24 tanks including 25 light, 60 heavy, and 29 medium tanks. A possible organization of the tank components of a mechanized corps would include: a reconnaissance battalion with 25 light tanks, a tank brigade with 43 medium and 20 heavy tanks, and three mechanized brigades, each with a mixed tank regiment. The mixed tank regiment would have three medium tank companies with 0 medium tanks each and three heavy tank companies with 5 heavy tanks each (plus 3 medium tanks in headquarters). Such a mechanized corps would have 222 tanks including 25 light, 32 medium, and 65 heavy tanks. The ratio of the heavy to medium tanks in the above organizations is approximately 2 to. The remainder of the heavy tank strength probably will continue to be organized into independent heavy tank regiments of 20 tanks each. Section. ARMY GROUPS, ARMES, AND CORPS. ARMY GROUP (FRONT) The Army Group (Front) is the basic planning and administrative organization. The size of its sector is determined by lines of communication. t contains and allots tactical and service reserves. t services its combat components, operates the primary axis of supply and evacuation, and coordinates the supporting military districts. The development of the Front was largely governed by logistics. The lack of adequate roads and relative scarcity of railroads in the U. S. S. R. not only brought about a -5

11 TM Mar 46 gades, bridging battaliotns, motor transport brigades, signal regiments, road repair regiments, signal intelligence battalions, security battalions, officer replacement regiments, infantry replacement regiments, penal battalions, and maintenance, ammunition, fuel rations, and forage depots. 2. ARMES nfantry, tank, shock, and cavalry armies are found in the Red Army. An army is the basic strategic organization of combined arms, including air. Although air divisions normally are not an organic part of the ground army, the artillery commander is responsible for the tactical coordination of the supporting aviation. The army plans, coordinates, and maintains all phases of a continuing operation. An army consists of a large, permanent headquarters to which are allotted combat troops and services to execute a strategic mission. Theoretically, it is a task force, although in actual practice the major components have been increasingly stable. Considerable variation exists in the composition of the different armies, especially in the number of supporting armored and artillery units which may be allotted to them by the Army Group (Front). Every' army. consists of headquarters and at least the fllowing service and administrative elements: signal regiment. replacement regiment. 2 engineer construction battalions. flame thrower battalion. chemical warfare battalion. road maintenance battalion. Field bakeries. 2 reconnaissance battalions. 2 to 4 motor transport battalions. security battalion. penal battalion. ordnance battalion. Quartermaster depots. Work shops. Medical resources of an army include field hospitals in proportion to the number of subordinate formations, two to three evacuation hospitals, three hospitals for slightly wounded, two hospitals for infectious diseases, two veterinary hospitals, and one or two veterinary evacuation hospitals. The service components of an army total 20,000 to 25,000 men. Major combat components of a typical infantry army include three to four rifle corps, each with rigid centralized control of transportation, but even determined tactical capabilities. As a result, the basic planning and administrative organizations were delineated by routes of communication, rather than the political boundaries of the military districts. An Army Group's strength is approximately,000,000 men. t is generally commanded by a marshal who is assisted by a military council and staff. The council, presided over by the commander of the front, has three other members. One represents combat arms and services; the second represents rear area services and administration; the third is an officer secretary of the council. f the Front is located within the political boundaries of the U. S. S. R., the secretary of the regional committee of the Communist Party acts as a liaison officer between the military and civil authorities. The military council determines basic policy on organization, training, and administration of the Front. t supervises the execution of the commander's orders. A member of the council countersigns field orders of the commander. The staff of the Front, consisting of the forward and rear echelons, is controlled by the Chief of Staff. The forward echelon, during combat, includes the (Operations) Staff, the staffs of the Chiefs of Arms and Services, political administration, and the training and personnel departments. The rear echelon includes the service staff, controlled by the deputy commander fot rear area, and consisting of chiefs of rear area services, administration for captured materiel, the field post office, and the judge advocates department. A Front consists of a permanent headquarters, attached service troops, supply and administrative installations, and a variable number of combat formations with their supporting units. Variations in the number and type of major combat formations and supporting units are numerous. A typical active Front has the following major components: four or five infantry armies, one or two tank armies, one or two air armies (,000 to,00 planes each), four artillery divisions, five antiaircraft divisions, five rocket brigades, two independent mortar brigades, four independent heavy artillery brigades, five tank destroyer brigades, two tank corps, one or two mechanized corps, and a cavalry corps. n addition to the headquarters and staff, a _Front has the following service units, whose nu!!per is commensurate with the number of the combat components of the Front: engineer construction brim-6

12 Mar 46 three to four rifle divisions; a brigade with 52-mm gun howitzers and 22-mm guns; a tank destroyer regiment; an antiaircraft artillery regiment; and a mortar regiment. Combat engineers are allotted to an army, from the reserve of the Army Group, at the rate of one battalion for each active division. Tactical components of a tank army vary according to the terrain and the mission. The 3d Guards Tank Army, for example, consisted of two mechanized corps, a tank corps, one light artillery and two heavy gun-howitzer brigades, a tank destroyer brigade, two self-propelled artillery regiments, a rocket regiment, an antiaircraft artillery regiment, and an engineer brigade. Tank armies normally form part of the mobile reserve of the high command, and are committed at a decisive point during major operations. They are generally withdrawn after the operation. Cavalry armies consisted of two cavalry corps, one mechanized corps, and the normal army troops. Cavalry armies, like the tank armies, constitute GHQ troops and are used to augment other mobile troops. Shock armies are made up of picked tank and mechanized corps and rifle divisions. They are combined, according to their mission, with artillery, tank, and engineer units to form a powerful assault force which may be shifted from sector to sector for either offense or defense. These armies are retained in the reserve of the high command: Their composition varies not only from one army to another, but the composition of an individual shock army changes according to the situation. Guards armies may be infantry, tank, cavalry, or shock. The title "Guards" is appended to any army which distinguishes itself in combat. Components of Guards armies are upgraded in personnel and equipment. 3. CORPS There are two general types of corps in the Red Army, the operational control corps (rifle and artillery) and the mobile corps (tank, mechanized, and cavalry). The rifle corps is primarily a forward headquarters, with attached supporting troops, for tactical control of two to four rifle divisions. The commander of a rifle corps has no military council. The forward echelon of a rifle corps headquarters consists of the operations, intelligence, signal communication, and penal sections, and artillery, engineer, and chemical warfare staffs. The rear echelon of TM the headquarters of the rifle corps is a skeleton organization which consolidates the reports and requisitions of the subordinate formations, and reinforces subordinate rear echelon staffs in critical situations. Normally, attached supporting troops of a rifle corps include a howitzer and a tank destroyer artillery regiment, a signal baitalion, and an engineer construction battalion. The service elements of a rifle corps services only the corps headquarters and the attached corps troops. The artillery corps is a forward artillery headquarters with a balanced staff. t controls two or more artillery divisions and other GHQ artillery units which are assigned to it for a specific operation, or series of operations. Because the artillery corps is primarily a task force, there is considerable variation between corps, and within the artillery corps itself. For example, the V Artillery Corps in the summer of 94 consisted of three artillery divisions, a heavy howitzer brigade, a medium howitzer brigade, and a heavy mortar brigade. The V Artillery Corps consisted only of three artillery divisions. Several antiaircraft artillery corps were identified during the last year of the war with Germany. Each corps controlled two or three antiaircraft attillery divisions, and other GHQ antiaircraft artillery units. Cavalry, tank, and mechanized corps, in contrast to the rifle corps, are permanent formations with standard Tables of Organization and Equipment. Section. ORGANZATON OF THE GROUND ARMS. NTRODUCTON The stable formations and uni.ts of the Red Army are made up of two types of standard organizational elements-the specialized and the interchangeable. The specialized organizational elements are found in rifle and cavalry divisions. They are characterized by economy of personnel and by maximum cross-country mobility. For example, the engineer battalion of the rifle division has only 64 officers and enlisted men, as compared with 270 officers and enlisted men of the engineer battalion of the rifle and mobile corps. The interchangeable organizational elements are common to several formations. For example, the motorized 20-mm mortar regiment is found in the tank and mechanized corps; in the artillery division; or it may be independent. The specialized organizational elements are com- -7

13 TM posed of companies, batteries, or platoons which are identical to the corresponding companies, batteries, and platoons of the interchangeable organizational elements. For example, the battalions of the divisional artillery regiment are unique in that they consist of two batteries of 76-mm guns and one battery of 22-mm howitzers. The organization of each 22-mm howitzer battery is identical with the 22-mm howitzer battery of the howitzer regiment. The employment of standard organizational elements facilitates rapid creation of temporary tactical groupings. (Temporary tactical groupings are discussed in Chapter V.) Standard organizational elements are as follows: Formation (Soyedineniye). The Formation is a stable organization of combined arms and minimum services designed to execute one phase of a large operation such as a penetration, exploitation, delaying action, or counterattack. Rifle and cavalry divisions, tank and mechanized brigades are examples of a Formation. Unit (Chast). The Unit is the basic organization of a single arm or service: it is the smallest organization with balanced staff and services. ts size varies from a brigade to a battalion. The term applies to an entire, large, secondary component of a Formation; for example, the artillery Unit of an infantry division includes not only divisional artillery, but all artillery in the division including heavy mortars and battalion guns. Element (Podrazdelenye). The Element is a basic grouping of one arm or service lacking balanced staff and services. t varies from battalion to company size. The term is applied to lesser secondary components of a Formation; for example, the engineer.or special-troops Element of an infantry division. t is also applied to the main tactical subdivisions of Units; for example, the battalions within an infantry or artillery regiment. Group (Gruppa), and Detachment (Otryad, Razezd). The Group and Detachment are small, temporary organizations of mixed arms which are prescribed for given tactical missions. The composition of these special Groups or Detachments is loosely outlined in field service regulations. Some Mar 46 typical examples of such organizations are the reconnaissance Group or Detachment and a leading Group. A reconnaissance Group (Detachment) ranges in size from a company to a reinforced battalion, or two cavalry squadrons. t operates on a front 3 to 8 miles wide and 2 to 5 miles deep. A leading Group (Detachment) may be as large as a reinforced battalion. t is sent out by an advance guard of a rifle regiment and operates.5 to 2 miles in front of, or to the flank of, the parent body. The following Tables of Organization and Equipment of the principal tactical units of the Red Army are believed to be correct in all major items of equipment and over-all strength. The allocation of small arms and submachine guns, and the distribution of headquarters troops, are, however, partly estimated. The description of units is confined to their primary mission and, when practicable, a comparison with a comparable U. S. unit. (The supply and resupply requirements, movement weight, maximum axle load, and limiting speed of the major units are listed in Chapter V). 2. NFANTRY a. Rifle division. The mission of the Red Army rifle division is close combat. t is characterized by a marked strength in automatic weapons, especially submachine guns, and heavy and medium mortars. These weapons compensate for relative weakness in field artillery. Although the personnel strength of the Red Army rifle division is 4,424 smaller than the U. S. infantry division, its combat strength is only 200 less. ts supporting and service elements make up only 26 and 2 percent of its total strength, respectively, as compared with 36 and 2 percent in the U. S. infantry division. U.S.S.R. U.S. nfantry 62% 53% Supporting Arms 26% 36% Services 2% 2% With the exception of medium artillery, heavy mortars, and the artillery supply column (and the previously mentioned report of a possible increase in infantry motorization), the Red Army rifle division is horse drawn. ts tactical mobility is low, but it is not road bound. t is incapable of extended offensive effort because the capacity of its organic transport is low, and weapon crews are cut to a minimum. The replacement pool is small (00-8

14 i J 34 ). Mar 46 TM P!'= <.0 ::os ::os 8 a> : ,..:: < 0 0 < ::os C C 8.0 ::os ::os < Q Unit ::os So(! S S a::e a::os a s a S s ;> s s s a s s s s a <:) o(! i N r!- ob s s a....!<: 'd N 6 g ob til <D N 0 r--: r--: r--: r--: - lq... r- r , > ' Hq & Hq Co Ren Tr Sig Co Engr Bn CWS Co , 6 0 Div Arty Regt 998 i i tr thmm lfij. 3: -:: :i 3: 5 5 :- :: -::: :::'::: :::: :::;!_-:l::iy ::: :: f-i:::::::::::- ti ti :i: :;,_ ;;_ ::: iii: :;; :i: :;: ;iii: ::: :-- :::: -:: J,;: ;,: iii -;r :ii TotaL 9,69 5,426 2, \ , Figure 3. Toole of Organization and Equipment: Rifle Division. men). Even moderate numbers of casualties greatly reduce its effectiveness (fig. 3). The Red Army rifle division can be completely motorized by the addition of,200 trucks. f horses of the division were left behind, only 825 trucks are needed, 0 of which operate supply lines and tow guns. Divisional artillery consists of a mixed field artillery regiment, an antitank battalion, and an antiaircraft machine gun company. The mixed artillery regiment includes 998 officers and enlisted men (fig. 4',. t is armed with 22-howitzers and 76-mm guns. With the exception of the 22-mm howitzers, which are tractor drawn, and ammunition trucks, the regiment is horse drawn. Thus, divisional artillery, although it is lighter than that of the U. S. infantry division, is capable of providing close support to the rifle regiments in varying terrain and weather. The divisional antitank battalion consists of headquarters, headquarters battery, three firing batteries-each with four 45-mm antitank guns-and a small train (fig. 5). During the last year of the war with Germany, the 45-mm antitank guns of the antitank battalion were often replaced by 57 -mm antitank or 76-mm guns. t is expected that, in the future, this unit will be armed with light self-propelled artillery. The divisional antiaircraft machine gun company is armed with eighteen 2.7-mm antiaircraft machine guns. t was reintroduced into the rifle division during the summer of 944. Ammunition and fuel for the divisional artillery Unit ::os Pi <= ::E 0 ::E 0 8 i i iii i,!!:l ::os ' - fd ob S,!.!<:;>.a 'd =- --! :-i l-j i H q. Opns Stf i 9 2, i : ohtcal Stf ; ::;up Stf ' Hq v Plt========= ======== ========,========:====:==== ====---3- ==== === 3 R.cn Plat : i Slg PlaL ; , i Bnrs:cla;::::::h- 7:i 8 5:!j8l:iih:Ji':2i:i'::;: r :i led Plat! i {-ShP====! QM 'Vk Shop ===== ==== ==== ==== ======== ==== --i- ==== --: ==== === --- Trans PlaL 30! i i Total \----n ist36f242! ju2 Figure 4. Toole of Organization and Equipment: Division Artillery Regiment. -9

15 6 TM comprise more than 50 percent of the total supply requirement of the division. Two variations of the standard rifle division exist in the Red Army: the Guards Rifle Division, and the reduced division. The Guards Rifle Division differs from the standard division in that its supporting and service elements are slightly larger. Each Guards rifle regiment has an extra submachine gun company and its replacement poof is twice as large. ' qc Unit 0 S... E-< S. S S S o.q, '0 0 r.:: E-< E-< Hq & Rcn Hq Sec Btry _ Topo Sec 9 lo Sig PlaL Btrys 5 Jll ATR Co 4 tj, Am PlaL SupSec Figure = TotaL , Table oj Organization and Equipment: 45- or 57-mm Antitank Gun Battalion. The reduced rifle division is based on emergency flexible Tables of Organization and Equipment which were authorized by the high command in November 943. The actual size of the division ranged from 5,000 to 8,000 officers and enlisted men. The size was determined by the commander of an Army Group (Front) or of an independent army. Reduction of over-all strength of the rifle division was accomplished by a proportional reduction of all components. A few mountain infantry divisions existed during the early months of the war with Germany. Each consisted of four mountain rifle regiments, 2,200 men each, and the same supporting and service units as the standard division. Mountain artillery regiments of the mountain division had,500 officers and enlisted men, organized into two mountain artillery battalions. Each battalion contained two mountain ho,,,,itzer batteries and one mountain mortar battery. The division had an antiaircraft battalion, and relatively large supporting and service elements. ts total strength was approximately 2,800 men. b. The rifle brigade. A great number of rifle brigades were activated during the winter of The majority of these brigades were disbanded or upgraded to divisions during the following year, and at the end of the hostilities few rifle brigades existed. A rifle brigade consists of three Mar 46 to five rifle battalions. Each battalion included three rifle companies, a submachine gun company, 82-mm mortar battery, antitank rifle company, machine gun company, and engineer, medical. transport, and ampule-thrower* platoons. n addition to the rifle battalions, the brigade has submachine gun, machine gun, artillery, mortar, and antitank gun battalions, and reconnaissance, engineer, signal, medical, and transport companies. ts strength is approximately 5,400 officers and enlisted men. Marine rifle brigades and emergency workers brigades were organized, in the same manner as the rifle brigades, from surplus naval personnel and workers pools. c. The rifle regiment. The Red Army rifle regiment is an organization which contains the arms and minimum services necessary for the execution of independent combat missions. t has 2,474 officers and enlisted men. n contrast with 3,257 officers and enlisted men of the U. S. infantry regiment, it appears small. The difference is due mainly to smaller weapons crews and service elements. The Red Army rifle regiment is stronger than the U. S. infantry regiment in automatic weapons, especially submachine guns, and in medium and heavy mortars. But it is weaker in regimental artillery and antitank guns (fig. 6). Outstanding feature of the organization of the rifle regiment is the submachine gun company of 00 men, all armed with submachine guns. With the exception of heavy mortars and signal equipment, which are motorized, all of the regimental weapons and transport are horse drawn. The regiment is free to maneuver in all kinds of weather and terrain. t is not road bound. The regiment is, however, incapable of extended independent combat, because the supply and maintenance capabilities of its organic transport are low. Even moderate casualties greatly reduce its effectiveness. The regiment is easily maneuverable. t requires only three 50-car trains for movement by rail. The artillery commander of a rifle regiment has considerable fire power at his disposal. By combining the resources of the battalion artillery and mortars with organic regimental artillery, he can concentrate the fire of 27 medium mortars, 6 heavy mortars, 2 antitank guns, and 4 regimental howitzers. *A tlat-trajectory mortar which propels an incendiary "ampule" against armored vehicles up to ranges of 300 yards_ Vsed by the Red Army in , it has since been discarded. -0

16 3 i 50 = 8 _ - x _ i : ,--= Mar 46 TM ' ::E c..e "" s.., s..,... i So.e.g Unit - [;i;.- VJ 0 ::E ::E ::E E-< S S E S '" :> Sq & StL 8'l - 3 i:, -00,- i'\r-(-;ltl-i 7_i _ f.fof:::: i i t '_ :: -: _ - i! :::: :-; ';-i- ::!.-.: :. :.:- ::.:-:i ---;;- [ ::: :gk!a::::::::: ll!,7!,s g 43 '--i ' S f-::_:: :::: --3-' s} 2 9- :::= lltff- 6 ff i!!.:}):i7:6:48tl)u:.:. Trans Co J-----! \ 60: ---_ CWSPlaL l 0 2 '_-_-'_--_ =-=-=- TotaL 97! 2,277 2, 474 i, 54. 8; 27: s 327: 5 5 Figure 6. Table of Organization and Equipment: Rifle Regiment. The Guards Rifle Regiment differs from the standard rifle regiment in that it is upgraded in personnel, and made stronger in light and heavy automatic weapons (fig. 7). t has two submachine gun companies. The machine gun companies of its battalions have 2 heavy machine guns, instead of the 9 in the company of a standard battalion. The antitank rifle platoon of the Guards Rifle Battalion has 6 antitank rifles, as compared with 9 of the standard battalion. Thus, a Guards Rifle Regiment is able to put more men in the forward lines, and is capable of more extended action than is the standard rifle regiment. Unit < >:: oc.c. ::E r T. ::E SU E [;i; 6 6 :::. C'l <C: 0,.:,.:,.:,.: 6 ;i C.;:; :::E S :::E.c. -< "'" E 6 > 'd ce ;n i': ;:::: ,--- :======= 2g 268 '=========='====:==== ==== -=== ==== ======J====== ====== Sig Co ATR Co ;g i :======!====: ==== ==== -_=== === ==-_ Engr Co R Bns 98, ,5-48 i AT Btrv _- - _ How Btr:v ! ! Q 6o;t Plat - -- = -= -= -= -= -= -= -= - - i f! i : = -= -= -= -= - - -= =: - = = =,= i = ] = = = =! J = = = = = = : ', : ' 9 = = = '= = = = = =' = = = = :\led Co 34 34: _- - - _- - - _- 8 Vet PaL 3. CWS Plat 2' 0 2 ' 4 7 ' Trans Co : - - _- - _ - '. _ i---'------, :-----'---'---- TotaL 2, 748 ',597 i 870' , 8 Figure 7. Table of Orgalization ald Equipment: Guard:s Rifle Regiment. d. Rifle battalion. Basic organizational element of the infantry arm is the rifle battalion. t consists of headquarters, three rifle companies, antitank rifle platoon, mortar company, machine gun company, antitank gun platoon, and a medical unit (fig. 8). ts strength is 69 officers and enlisted men. The battalion is the lowest administrative and housekeeping unit of the infantry arm maintaining a kitchen, a repair shop, a medical unit, and a pharmacy for its subordinate units. With its light transport, organic supporting mortars, and light artillery, it is well suited for outflanking and infiltrating tactics in any terrain. n comparison with the LT. S. infantry battalion, the Red Army rifle battalion is weaker in personnel and weapons, except light automatic weapons and medium mortars. The outstanding feature of the armament of the rifle battalion is its large number of submachine guns. -

17 TM Mar 46 Figure 8. Table of Organization and Equipment: Rifle Battalion. Supply and maintenance capabilities of the rifle battalion are small. For more than a day of iight combat it must be assisted by regimental or divisional services. A rifle battalion can be easily moved. One truck company (00 SS-5 trucks) can carry a complete battalion with sufficient rations, forage, and ammunition for 7 to 8 days of heavy combat. Two variations of the rifle battalion-the motorized rifle battalion and the motorized submachine gun battalion-constitute the infantry element of the motorized and the tank brigade respectively. The motorized rifle battalion differs from the standard battalion in that it has additional antitank rifle, antitank gun, and submachine gun platoons. t has six instead of nine 82-mm mortars. ts strength is 662 officers and enlisted men. The motorized submachine gun battalion, a part of the tank brigade, is smaller than the standard rifle battalion. t lacks the machine gun company, and has six instead of nine 82-mm mortars. But, like the motorized rifle battalion, it has additional antitank rifle and antitank gun platoons. 3. ARMORED AND MECHANZED FORCES a. Armored forces. Tactical units of the Red Army armored forces are organized into tank corps, tank brigades, and independent heavy tank regiments and battalions. TANK CORPS. A tank corps usually forms a part of the mobile striking forces of the commander of a Front or an army. t is used to deliver a decisive blow on a narrow sector, and in cooperation with other arms to exploit a break-through. A tank corps is an example of a Soviet practice of building a formation from standard organizational elements. The tank corps consists of three tank brigades, one motorized rifle brigade, six artillery regiments of various calibers, and supporting arms and services (fig. 9). Tank corps may differ in the number of organic self-propelled artillery regiments. They may vary between one and four per tank corps. Red Army tank corps are comparable in strength and armament with U. S. armored divisions. They have fewer tanks than the U. S. division (200 as compared with 272) and fewer self-propelled guns (40 compared with 62). However, many of the Soviet tanks and self-propelled mounts are heavier gunned than the corresponding weapons of a U. S. armored division. Organic artillery weapons, including medium and heavy mortars and rockets, of the tank corps outnumber those of the U. S. armored division by more than 2lh to l. Transport and ammunition companies of a tank corps carry two rations, two refills of fuel, and onehalf unit of fire for all of its organic and attached units. t can maintain them for 5 or 6 days of moderate combat. ts maintenance and repair shops operate approximately 30 miles behind the front lines. Maj or repairs involving exchange of motors, gun tubes, welding of armor, and manufacturing and fitting some spare parts are effected in these shops. TANK BRGADE. The mission of a tank brigade is destruction of hostile infantry by means of fire and shock action. A tank brigade usually forms a part of a tank corps. n operations, it is supported by a portion of the tank corps' self-propelled artillery, and can be compared with a combat command of au. S. armored division. A tank brigade is also built from standard organizational elements, including three -2

18 Mar 46 tank battalions, a motorized submachine gun battalion, an antiaircraft machine gun company, and services (fig. 0). Maneuverability of a tank brigade is good. Although its service echelon is road bound, Soviet tanks with their wide tracks and high clearance can operate in difficult terrain. Without its support and service group, the tank brigade has limited supply capabilities. They are sufficient for only a few hours of operation. The service group extends these capabilities to a day or two of moderate combat. With corps resources, a tank brigade can be committed to moderate combat for 5 or 6 days. A tank brigade has two recovery tractors and a mobile repair shop for effecting minor repairs as near the front lines as possible. MOTORZED RFLE BRGADE. The mission of the motorized rifle brigade is to support tanks in breakthrough or pursuit operations, to hold captured terrain obj ectives, and to protect the tanks from hostile infantry and antitank weapons. The motorized rifle brigade is, in fact, a reinforced rifle regiment, motor ized. t consists of headquarters, three motorized rifle battalions, a powerful mechanized reconnaissance company, a mortar and a field artillery battalion, an antitank rifle, submachine gun, and antiaircraft machine gun companies, and services tfig. ). The proportion of services to infantry and supporting arms in the motorized brigade is about twice as large as in the rifle regiment. An important feature of the organization of the motorized rifle brigade is the engineer mine company, whose mission is to establish offensive antitank mine fields. The motorized rifle brigade is tactically mobile on roads and easy terrain, and is easily maneuverable. ARTLLERY OF THE TANK (AND MECHANZED) CORPS. The artillery commander of the tank and mechanized corps has at his disposal six artillery units armed with a variety of weapons. The mission of this artillery is to support tanks and motorized infantry in mobile operations. The type and relative proportidh of artillery weapons were selected so as to achieve maximum flexibility and shock power of artillery fire without impairing the mobility and maneuverability of the corps. The greater part of the tank and mechanized corps artillery consists of flat trajectory weapons. Their fire against hostile infantry and area targets is supplemented by heavy mortars and rockets. The 52-n'lm self-propelled gun-howitzer regiment executes long-range, as well as direct, support missions. J): OllW :0 'C'lC'lr- '0> :8...,0>,..., 'C' ';< _ 00>C'lr-';<C'l0>0>0>C'l000> oo N :o>r-... ::,....:) ptujy '" TM la... olqj, ami'll..>! : \ :',s s, ll ' 'H mw-zel :00 00 o rum.., :!l!l i'" : : * D yy wm-le!!:e : VOl\: WW-()(;l :'" i O":OOONl"-:"":C'lc;qoo=-! '" D\:S UlUl-Zg l. r-go;;';<t::seo:c'l.;<r-:>"'e 8. -3

19 TM Mar 46 so(! S SS S S < 0.J:l 9:i E '0 'E > r---: 7 7 f,..; 0- -(-;,-:::::::J-_ 8-:: -;-; -::- - -: :-::: l :::: ; Hcn PlaL Engr PaL _ _ _ CWS PlaL Hq Plat Sup Sec 2 2 [ Sig PaL _ _ TkBns :\tz SMG Bn [ 3 :rf========= b g ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== --4- ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== :...:...: t": E- < E- E- w 6 ofit-c== 6 ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== :\led Plat 4_ -==- -==- -==- -==- _2_ -==--==--==- TotaL, Figure 0. Table of Organization and Equipment: Tank Brigade. ncluding artillery and mortars of the tank and motorized brigades (except tank guns), the artillery commander of the tank corps has 232 pieces of artillery and 8 multiple rocket launchers at his disposal. The weight of a single salvo of these weapons S more than 5 tons, and if the fire of tank guns is included it is more than 7 tons. Normally, two of the artillery regiments are selfpropelled. These are a light 8S-mm regiment and a heavy S2-mm gun-howitzer regiment (figs. 2 and 3). The mission of these regiments is close sup port of tanks. Normally direct fire is used. However, both regiments have sufficient personnel and equipment to conduct indirect fire against distant targets. The tank destroyer regiment is a part of the tank, mechanized, and cavalry corps. t also may be independent or a part of a tank destroyer brigade. t consists of headquarters, headquarters battery, five or six firing batteries, and regimental services (fig. 4). Each firing battery has four 76-mm guns. Some regiments, however, were encountered which 88 ass 0. Unit "! "C s so(! s s '[ s s s SS '0 ' '0 o(! t.!. J, S..L!S S S S '0 O r-- r-..,- '" '""'4 00 ij, -i r-- obi';;';; ---,.t t:'""' u,e:... gc---::::::::::--6- :::::: :::]:: :::::::: :::: :::::::: ::J::: 7_ ::: ::: Sig PaL CWS Plat _ 2 3 MtekP======, 9: :- 35 ==== 27 ==== ==== 54 ==== 8 ==== ==== 2 ==== ==== ==== ==2== Mort Bn , 22 5 Arty Bn ATR Co SMG Co Rcn Co Ord & Maint Co Engr Mine Co f::;spfa = = = = = = = = = = = g g = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = 6 = = = = AAMG Co TotaL :3, 238, i Figure. Table of Organization and Equipment: Motorized Rifle Brigade.

20 Mar 46 TM '2!!! - Unit ::s leo i? v i i j ; ] e.-. _J : :_:J _ -=: H q i 20 3 :\ 7! _ Ren Plat _ _ -_ -_-' 30 6 i 2 _- - -\, \ g;llt----==================== g ==== ==== ======== ==== ==== ==== ====il======= 4 SP Btrys ' -' S:\ G Co ; ! ATR co ' ! Ord & Maint Shop ' Am PaL F.' u el PaL ! _ -_ -_ -_ -_ -_ -_ -_ ' [-_ -_ -_ -_ Sn p See _ 0 0, 2 :\ed Plat TotaL \ 440 i 7 -=-=-=-=-'-=-=-=-=-!-=-=-=-=-:-=-=-=-=-,_l_ -=-=-=-=-.i-=-=-=-=-' i 240 \8! \ 2! 2 2 :'\ote.-antitank rifles, engineer, and submarhinr guns may be assigned from parent formations. The organic strength is, in that case, approximately 300. Figure 2. Table of Organization and Equipment: Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment. had six guns in each battery_ This regiment is completely motorized. The ammunition columns of the tank, mechanized, and cavalry corps carry a full unit of fire for the tank destroyer artillery regiments, but only one-half a unit of fire for their other components. The light antiaircraft artillery regiment may be a part of the tank and mechanized corps, antiaircraft artillery division, or may be independent. t consists of headquarters, headquarters battery, four firing batteries and regimental services (fig. 28. ts strength in armament and personnel is approximately half that of a U. S. antiaircraft automatic weapons mobile battalion. The motorized mortar regiment may be a part of the tank and mechanized corps or the mortar artillery brigade, or it may be independent. t consists of headquarters and headquarters battery, two mortar battalions, and regijlental services (fig. 26). Missions of heavy mortars are outlined in the discussion of the mortar brigade. The rocket battalion is a part of a tank and mechanized corps, and a part of the rocket regiment. n the tank corps, the mission of the rocket battalion is to support the advance of tanks and motorized infantry. t generally engages area targets, employing HE projectiles against personnel, and incendiary projectiles against buildings and supply areas. The rocket battalion is highly maneuverable on roads and easy terrain. Figure 3. Table of Organization and Equipment: Heavy Self-Propelled Regiment. -5

21 c:. t TM Mar 46 Figure 4. Table of Organization and Equipment: Tank Destroyer Artillery Regiment (Towed). The antitank gun battalion of the tank, mechan ized, and cavalry corps is armed with twelve 45-mm antitank guns, eighteen antitank rifles, and other small arms (fig. 5). t is completely motorized. ts :i ' ':::, ;:::: ::s ::s ;:: ;: Unit ::s 6[ [ '0. 'Ei,-= o -,-,..: - >::: E- - i,t;;,2 c :-----'----:--;--- --,---- i :H.; 2 : i,,; 3 d:;!--::::: i i::::::::::::: litl;), Hq PlaL 2, i ' i,! ; :pce-:::::::::::t,-'-23,-3 TotaL! : 'ncluding ten armored personnel carriers. Figure 5. 3,'9 : 7 2 ', Table of Organization and Equipment: Reconnaissance Battalion. mission is to protect the headquarters and principal supply installations of the corps against infiltrating light armored vehicles. t is likely that the 45-mm antitank guns of this unit will be replaced by 57- or 76-mm guns, or by light self-propelled artillery. Other supporting arms and services of the tank and mechanized corps consist of a reconnaissance battalion, motorcycle battalion, signal battalion, engineer battalion, chemical warfare company, water and fuel column, transport company, field bakery, and a medical battalion. The reconnaissance battalion consists of headquarters and headquarters company, two mechanized reconnaissance companies, and a supply platoon (fig. 5). The motorcycle battalion (fig. 6) is the only organic unit of the Red Army field organization to contain flame throwers. ts missions are varied, including reinforcement of the reconnaissance battalion, flank security, protection of lines of communications, and reduction of small, bypassed enemy forces. (Organization of the engineer, signal, medical, and other service units is described in Section, Technical Services.) h. Mechanized forces. n the Red Army the term, "mechanized," is applied to a team of motorized infantry, tanks, and artillery in which the infantry element predominates. There are two such formations in the Red Army: the mechanized corps, and the mechanized brigade. MECHANZED CORPS. A mechanized corps forms a part of a mobile reserve for the commander of a... :;':::::s ::S t: ;,',CLS;CLH E: - 0 c ' Unit 'i i l sl C3,,;:::, c:. ' s <'l l.!<l'" 'Cl ::: C e.o =-- :_ l -=--,--=- Hq & Sig --' 8 5 i '---- : (: ZiariS-Sqd---::: i --- ::: : ::: --i- :: --2-i:: 2.Hrcl Cos 46 i, ' 2 Mtz Co i , ,,----!---- Flame ThrOWN PlaL 22 i , 0 2 Mort l::::::_::: -2-:-il--:-:-9-: ----ill-+'----i--: i---;- ----:!, Figure 6. Table of Organization and Equipment: Motorcycle Battalion. Front or an army. ts primary mission is to exploit a break-through, pursuit, or a counterattack. A mechanized corps is composed of organizational elements which include three mechanized brigades, one m-6

22 Mar 46 tank brigade, six artillery regiments, and supporting arms and services (fig. 7). As in a tank corps, the number of self-propelled artillery regiments in a mechanized corps may vary between one and four. The calibers and types of artillery weapons also may vary. For example, the motorized heavy mortar regiment may be replaced by a 22-mm howitzer regiment. There is no organization in the U. S. Army which is comparable to the Red Army mechanized corps. The artillery commander of a mechanized corps has 336 artillery pieces at his disposal. These pieces include the artillery and mortars of the mechanized and tank brigades, but exclude tank guns. The weight of a single salvo from these weapons is more than 6;2 tons. f tank guns are included, it is more than 8Y'2 tons. (For discussion of the supporting artillery units of the mechanized corps, see Artillery of the Tank Corps.) Tactical mobility of a mechanized corps is good except in swamps, wooded terrain, deep snow, or during heavy thaws. A mechanized corps carries sufficient ammunition, rations, and fuel to sustain all of its components for 5 or 6 days of moderate combat. Transport and ammunition companies of the mechanized corps carry two rations, two refills of fuel, and one-half unit of fire for an its organic and attached units. As in the tank CC'fps, its repair and maintenance shops operate approximately 30 miles behind the front lines. They are capable of effecting major repairs to vehicles and ordnance such as the replacing of motors and gun tubes, welding armor, and manufacturing and fitting some parts for vehicles and weapons. MECHANZED BRGADE. A mechanized brigade a part of a mechanized corps, consists of a motorized brigade (fig. ), and a tank regiment (fig. 8). On roads or easy terrain, the mechanized brigade is extremely mobile, and capable of wide, bold maneuvers. Typically, it fights on or near roads. With organic transport and services alone, the supply and maintenance capabilities of the brigade is low. t has, however, two to four Type B mobile repair shops. The tank regiment has two recovery tanks,,,,-hich endeavor to repair slightly damaged tanks on the battlefield and tow more severely damaged ones under cover. TAl\"KS AND SELF-PROPELLED ARTLLERY. The basic organizational elements of the tank arm of the Red Army are the medium tank regiment, the TM : : ;-----c,----:-, -:-,-:-,.-:-,----:-,-:-,-,-,-,-_: : D qaa ds ;--o-oo-""--r_-... : : : : : : : : : : i : : : : : : : : : : f'-.,m,-... ;'::! :o:,occ'nl'-- :MM _ ' :2! r-... C"! '""'4, ",- '. ; :: -'_---C'l-O>-O>-O>- C - -;-[ '""'4... """" ' ' 00.."':;l t- C"' M - :- - '- j _,:,:,: :,... :N " "'''',, -----Og-j-L--:--:,",--:::-----:---',-, : \,,',"" :-",,: UB..) slad pilllv '''':,.,, o pwlv : i : i l_l i :! - j :---'---'-' '--'-: oo--'---'-: loci lwtlf :!, (.\\OH/o ds Ulill-Zgl) Zl.S :: i f, ---(O-d "... -o--,--,-: c, " ' : lliw-<;s) gs DS : i! O_Ul_ill_-9_l.--:-_: i;5 "" : -'-'---: 0 LV :... :;'::! :, -, o unu-ls lo lliill-gt o i. D VV llilli-l :;:; : ::: " poj"j: lliill-oc;l: : : ;'?; OJVV mill-l. Zl OW'! illill-zgol OWS illill-zgol uqo '' 't 't Y8 lliu-zg"!. : g8... "' r- o"'or-o>"''''ooooo';!- OOO-MOOM : _,,,, ' :: :s:., t b : :iti d c:;:: :.,,: t P: tl.o?>?>t' t; t'd '':r7:l oo doo 8 e<< N '""< i 8-7

23 TM Mar 46 Unit Hq -_.-_- -_-_- i' 0 0 -<= is r :l -< t: -< ril a(l. S f& -;$v = -- a(l ',,,....!d...,... "C -q "? -< ;:;: 0..- or-.: r-.: r-.: ::!: r' r rl i""" 00 -_-i =-;_-'--;. 2 Hq Co: Hq PlaL Rcn PaL _ Tk g:f!;-= = = = = = = = Ji! 8 = = = = = = = = = = = = 6 = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = - - 2::::::::::::: 28 n 9 ---is :::::::: ::: ::8== =_=_=_=_ ==2== =_=_=_=_ --- Trans & Maint Co fflf!t::::::::::::::: 2 2 :::: ::::: :::::: ::::::::::,::::: :::: -- :::: TotaL 543f296T ; Figure 8. Table of Organization and Equipment: Tank Regiment. heavy tank regiment, and the tank battalion. Regimental organizational elements are found in the mechanized brigade and as independent heavy tank regiments. The first type of regiment (approximately equivalent to the U. S. tank battalion) is a balanced organization with its own reconnaissance, engineer, signal, and maintenance units. A submachine gun company protects the tanks from hostile infantry. This tank regiment is organic to a mechanized brigade, thus completing the tank-infantryartillery team of that organization. The second type of Red Army tank regiment S the independent heavy tank regiment. Such regiments always are controlled by the commander of a Front or an army, and are allotted to subordinate formations according to their needs. A heavy tank regiment consists of four companies each with five heavy tanks, a submachine gun platoon for protection of the tanks from hostile infantry, a headquarters company, and relatively large supply and maintenance units. t is used to support infantry and medium tanks during attacks on heavily fortified positions, and as heavy artillery in support of mobile operations. nitial supply requirement of a heavy tank regiment is 88 tons. Daily resupply requirement in heavy combat is 48 tons. Rail movement of a heavy tank regiment requires one 40-car train. TANK BATTALONS. Two types of tank battalions exist in the Red Army. They are the independent tank battalion and the tank battalion which is organic to a tank brigade. The independent tank battalions are few in number, and they are generally equipped with older model tanks. Their organization is not uniform. They differ from the organic tank battalions of a tank brigade in that in addition to the tank companies and ammunition platoons, they have engineer, smoke, medical, and service platoons. The independent tank battalions have the same mission as the independent tank regiments discussed above. t is believed that the latter have displaced the independent tank battalions in the Red Army organization. Tank battalions which are organic to a tank brigade generally consist of two companies of medium tanks, a headquarters with one tank, and an ammunition platoon. Some battalions, however, have three companies. n that event, there are only two such battalions to a tank brigade. n the Red Army, self-propelled artillery is a part of the tank and mechanized forces. Organization of the self-propelled artillery regiments reflects tank rather than artillery doctrine. n fact, the organization of the heavy tank regiment is the same as that of the heavy self-propeled artillery regiment (fig. 3). t has the same supply requirements and capabilities, and the same mobility. The medium selfpropelled artillery regiment is a smaller version of the heavy regiment. 4.. ARTLLERY The artillery of the Red Army is organized into corps, divisions, brigades, regiments, and battalions. (The artillery corps was discussed in Section, Corps.) The artillery division is a base of fire for major offensive and counteroffensive operations. t is es- -8

24 72_,03 - Mar 46 Tl" cnit p '-' Q.:f 0 :: <E i E-.....::; r:n J.i H <: <: '-' 2 l. -",,, 0) "2 o::!...." -',,,..!, f"!...;.: -::: i-=-/ -' -, ;:-,:;. "' ! -i- " T--.-! :Jrtry - -_ 2,(5g),! ) i- -36, :: 72 _ i g 5g ' How Brig ,242 i, , 3fi 9 ' fi _ MG Brig ,28', tl Hv Mort Brig-,705,,397 i 35, ! _ 6 52 Arty Obsn Bn , i i (25) (5) - 2' (6) SigBn 255' 200 (55),, ' (J.'i) () (24) (0) Serv (ROO) ' - : (75) (8) 4 TotaL 9,743 7,907,25: Ri 08! i 294 Figures in parenthesis are approximations, Figure 9. Table of Organization and Equipment: Artillery Division. 2_ --WSr----;-[-OO-z94 sentially a task force- headquarters with permanent planning, fire control, reconnaissance, intelligence, and liaison staffs. t has adequate technical and service personnel for effective employment of 24 to 36 firing battalions. The number, type, and caliber of its component units depend primarily on its mission. t may be reinforced by GHQ heavy artillery regiments, aviation units, antiaircraft artillery and rocket regiments, army transport, and service units. A typical artillery division is shown in Figure 9. Tactically and strategically, the artillery division is not highly mobile. t requires extensive engineer assistance for road and bridge maintenance, preparation of firing positions, camouflage, and constructions of shelters for personnel and equipment. Much of its equipment is tracked. Single units of this equipment weigh up to 35,000 pounds. n addition to the artillery division described above, there are also the specialized weapons-artillery divisions, including the heavy gun division, and the antiaircraft artillery division. Little is known of the heavy gun divisions. Presumably they consist of several heavy artillery brigades. The antiaircraft artillery division consists of three 37-mm antiaircraft automatic weapons regiments, an 85-mm gun regiment, and divisional troops (fig. 20). The 85-mm gun regiment is approximately equal in personnel and armament to the U. S. 90-mm gun battalion. The 37-mm antiaircraft automatic weapons regiment is approximately equal to half a U. S. antiaircraft automatic weapons battalion. Thus, the Red Army antiaircraft division corresponds roughly to a U. S. automatic antiaircraft weapons group. One antiaircraft artillery division is generally assigned to each operational army, and one or more to each Army Group (Front). n addition to their primary mission of antiaircraft defense of important installations and troop concentrations, antiaircraft artillery units are used for antitank defense, support of ground troops by direct fire against targets whose destruction requires high-velocity fire, and less often for indirect fire against general ground targets. An antiaircraft artillery TotaL 2, , 48 6 tl Figure 20. Tuble oj Organization and Equipment: Antiaircraft ArtilleY Division. division is completely motorized and has good strategic mobility. a. Artillery brigades. An artillery brigade is a permanent tactical unit comprising a headquarters and a headquarters battery, two or three artillery regiments, and a service train. The headquarters battery has reconnaissance, survey, fire control, signal and service platoons aggregating between 70 and 85 officers and enlisted men. The service train contains an ammunition platoon, ordnance and maintenance shops, fuel platoon, service and administrative platoon, and a small medical unit. An ar- -9

25 TM Mar 46 o(l s - s S SO O::g S-2 So so ::g..c: 'Q Q) ::g '::g Folt ::g 3ril C'< C.J... < S as.....bd :> '0 ltl 0 ":Cl.Jo(l <; co Co 0 ril E-<... r..: r..:... E= C.J Hq & Opns StL - _ _ 4 2 Political Stf - _ Sup StL Hq Btry: Hq PaL Rcn PlaL SigPlat Topo Plat AA Plat Sup Sec _ mm G Regts 228, 623, 85, Med Plat 3 8 Am Colm Wk Shops _ _ TotaL, 787 2,063, 772--u5-----a6--3--n Figure 2. Table of Organization and Equipment: Light Artillery Brigade, Motorized. tillery brigade may be independent or a part of an artillery division. LGHT ARTLLERY BRGADE. A light artillery brigade generally forms a part of an artillery division. t is armed with seventy-two 76-mm guns, which are characterized by good muzzle velocity and great maneuverability. t is employed in close support of infantry and tanks, especially for direct fire. ts primary missions are destruction of personnel, infantry and light artillery weapons, and light field fortifications. A light brigade consists of three light artillery regiments, and brigade troops (fig. 2). The independent tank destroyer brigade is a variation of the light artillery brigade in which the firing batteries are controlled by the regimental headquarters. Battalion headquarters are eliminated. LGHT HOWTZER BRGADE. A light howitzer brigade may be either independent or a part of an artillery division. t is armed with 22-mm howitzers and their companion pieces, the 52-mm howitzers. The 22-mm howitzer is characterized by great flexibility in muzzle velocity and trajectory, effective burst, and good maneuverability. The 52-mm howitzer has a lower rate of fire, greater burst, and slightly greater range than the 22-mm howitzer. The brigade may be used for any mission except destruction of strong fortifications, or long-range fire. ts primary missions include destruction of Unit ::s ::s. ril <;t:l C.J,a o(l Q 0 Eo(l e., 3 C'l l::: 0 0 ril E-<...: 0 ::s C.J e C'l...: 0 0 ::s ::s <; <; 0 0 :l = E e S..c: Co) e e t) C'l :> f!... ;:i Co...: E-< E= E-< C.J Hq & Opns StL J-;;---5-==== = Political Stf _ Sup StL _ Hq Btry: Hq Plat Ren PaL !M::::! g! l i :::: ::i: :::: ::::::::: ::::: i :::: :::: ::: 2 2 :HoRg===== 22-, 82b 2, 03, Med Plat _ - \_ PlaL ==== _=== Sup :: ;;s:-j; '0 Figure 22. Table of Organization and Equipment: Light Howitzer Brigade. m-20

26 Mar 46 TM i' 0 -<.: fo;l CO,o -< 0 co H -< Unit So(! S S S,Q S S S Q.l ca S S S S S Q :> "'0 t!..lo e: '0 <C> <0 <C> ;::! Co 0 fo;l E-< r..: r..: r..: :s E-< co '" Hq & Opns Stf Political Stf Sup Stf Hq Pl;t============= ---i- ---ii- ---i ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ---i-==== ==== ==== Rcn PlaL Sig Plat Topo PlaL AAMG Plat Sup Sec _ Medium G Regts 226, 692, 98, Med Plat 3 8 _ Am Plat _ _ Wk Shops Sup Sec.. -=---=-=--=-=- 5 5_ --5--=---=-=--=-=- -=-=--=-=- -=-=--=-=- -=-=--=-=- -=-=--=-=- -=-=--=-=- -=-=--=-=- _.-=-=--=-=- -=-=--=-=- -=-=--=-=- TotaL!274,8542,28, Figure 23. Table of Organization and Equipment: Medium Gun Brigade. personnel in the open and in shelters; accompanying and antipersonnel barrages and concentrations; neutralization of light fortifications, mortars, and light artillery weapons; and fire reconnaissance. Additional missions include destruction of minefields, antitank ditches, and medium field fortifications. A light howitzer brigade consists of two howitzer regiments, and brigade troops (fig. 22). MEDUM GUN BRGADE. The medium gun brigade consists of two medium gun regiments, and brigade troops (fig. 23). t is armed with 52-mm gunhowitzers and their companion pieces, the 22-mm guns. The 52-mm gun-howitzer is characterized by greater penetration, lower rate of fire, and, except with the self-propelled mount KV, considerably less maneu,verability than the 52-mm howitzer. The 22-mm gun is characterized by high muzzle velocity, great penetration and range, good rate of fire, and only moderate maneuverability. The brigade is used against targets which are beyond the range and capabilities of the light howitzer brigade. ts primary missions are destruction or neutralization of artillery and armored trains, neutralization or interdiction of distant targets, destruction of field fortifications, fire reconnaissance of important or exceptionally resistant targets, and destruction of distant minefields. t is likely that the new high-velocity 00-mm guns are replacing some of the 22-mm guns in the brigade. HEAVY HOWTZER BRGADE. The heavy howitzer, and possibly the heavy gun brigade, armed with 203-mm howitzers and 52-mm guns respectively, consist of brigade headquarters and headquarters battery, four firing battalions, and brigade services. The 203-mm howitzer is the most powerful piece habitually used by Soviet field artillery when great blast and penetration are required. Targets are carefully selected because of low rate of fire and great weight of ammunition. Primary missions of this brigade include destruction of permanent fortifications, bridges, railroads, and buildings. n tactical groupments, the 203-mm howitzer is combined with its companion piece, the 52-mm gun-a weapon which is chracterized by great range, high muzzle velocity and penetration, low rate of fire, and poor maneuverability. 20-MM MORTAR BRGADE. Every artillery division has a mortar brigade. Mortar brigades, however, also may be independent. A mortar brigade has good tactical and strategic mobility. t is armed with mm mortars which are characterized by high rate of fire, great maneuverability, and good radius of burst. Primary missions of the mortar brigade include destruction of personnel in the open and in light shelters; destruction of light field fortifications and wire barriers; destruction or neutralization of artillery, mortar, and infantry firing positions; accompanying and defensive barrages and concentrations; and smoke screens. A heavy mortar brigade is especially useful in woods and swamps in direct support of infantry or cavalry. The brigade consists of three mortar regiments and brigade troops (fig. 24). D-2

27 .,. 5 TM Mar 46 E- = E E 0 E S 0"" E -.0 Eo So "" s S...:.Q Unit,,--. 0.;,.;,,':S "" 0 E- t: ""-<0 <0 00 <o...:l -<,,:-<:i@ :>. o E-< :OO t--.-.: -<"<' "" Hq and Opns StL Political StL Sup Stf ,---- Hq Btry mm Mort Regts 279 i, 88,467, d \akh-op;= = = = = = = = = = = l!! = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = 0 Am Plat = = = = _ Total 327l,705ll, ,52 Figure 24. Table of Organization and Equipment: 20-mm Mortar Brigade. h. Artillery regiments. Artillery regiments may be independent or may be parts of artillery brigades and artillery divisions, and organic to for- Unit -.2 i s, 0' = = - o, c.! o E-.-.: _ r::.e-e-e-lx::::: -H-q-&-O-p-n-s-St-r-o_- PoliticalStL '--;' ufi:lt:::: o o _o --i::: ==== === === === -tj==l:= ,, RcnPlaL Si!:PlaL t, ' TopoPlat i 5 --_ --,3,---: i6_ens:: -48-4Z: i Q-s! -6-,-22 Med Plat S _ Ord WkShop _ _ --_ ; : QMWkShop _ ' TransPlat ,, 5 ', SupSec , --- TotaL STn,2!24,4;208i4fSfi Figure 25. Table of Organization and Equipment: 76-mm Gun Regiment, Jlotorized. mations of combined arms. An frtillery regiment generally consists of headquarters and headquarters battery aggregating between 75 and 00 officers and enlisted men, three firing battalions, and service troops. The headquarters battery has reconnaissance, topographic, signal, and headquarters platoons. Service troops consist of ammunition platoon, ordnance and motor work shops, supply train, and a small medical unit. ndependent artillery regiments carry a full unit of fire for their subordinate units. Regiments which are parts of larger artillery units or of formations of combined arms carry one-third of a unit of fire. Regiments are the lowest housekeeping and administrative units of the artillery arm. Artillery regiments may be homogeneous or heterogeneous. (All units of homogeneous regiments -22 are armed with the same weapon, whereas heterogeneous regiments are armed with two or more companion weapons.) Homogeneous regiments include the light artillery regiment (fig. 25), the mortar regiment (fig. 26), and the rocket regiment (fig. 27). A light artillery regiment generally forms a part of a light artillery brigade. t consists of headquarters and headquarters battery, two battalions with three firing batteries each, and services. This regiment is often combined with a tank destroyer regiment (fig. 4) to form an antitank groupment. Other missions of the light artillery regiment are outlined in the discussion of the light artillery brigade. A heavy mortar regiment forms a part of a mortar brigade, or it may be independent. t consists of headquarters and headquarters battery, two firing battalions with 8 heavy mortars each, and regi- Unit z i,.c,, -;:: S - E lee :,....;:;; N::::: N N 0.!C:> 5! :: ::;: t.$'! Hq and Opns BtL _ 0 i ; Political StL ' 3 ' 3 3 Sup 8tL. i. S [ 5, 5 2 Hq W'i>f!i::::==: -Ti,'--r!--Ji---J -T ::== =:== -T!=:l:= ::: Sig Plat _ - 4 g!'clt:::: _ _ 220-mm Mort Bns_ lsl-is _ -i2 Mea. Plat. _ 3 S _ Ord Wk Shop i i:==::=: ::: i 2 [::::==: :==: -if} :===== TotaL,93f3964R9 395 i37s.36'lnl,9 "5"6,,,!! Figure 26. Table of Organization and Equipment: 20-mm j\ ortar Regiment mental services. t is used for destruction of personnel and materiel in open positions and in open trenches, for destruction of wire entanglements, neu-

28 Mar 46 tralization of machine guns and mortars, and for the establishment of stationary and moving barrages. During artillery preparation for an offensive operation the mortar regiment is often reinforced by a 22-mm howitzer regiment to form a countermortar groupment. Fnit,..,.- 0 " ' 0 c if.t W...:l -< -< ::::: i i go '" r-!: 7 -=.- ;i ::. o- r iii B q & Stf lo, Hq Plat _ Ren Sqd _ lo l' _ - - Sig Sqd, 5 lo 5 _ Sup See ,--, - 3RktBns 639 i !_ 3 4 AAA W Btry 62 35' Trnn"Co:,'.!';:t;;o'5--6 i6!24--i24 > Figure 27. Table of Organization and Equipment: Rocket Regiment The rocket regiment (M3) may be a part of a rocket brigade, or it may be independent. t has a balanced headquarters three rocket battalions with two rocket batteries each, an antiaircraft machine gun company, and services. This regiment is used against area targets. Weight of metal of a single 8aho from this unit is more than 7 tons. lei ' d- c -<..0! -< i 0 Wu i rl ; -< -<r, L'nit,a -< r.:: a...; = a i -, =.- = Cir-: ir-:':r ::::: Hq & Sig StL= PlaL -,-!-i-_:li-l Engr PlaL ',, Hq PlaL ! i 6 Sup See i: i i.mmBtrYs '' 56, , 4 AAMG Co SO 57 i Sup PlaL 5, 5 i Ord Shop, i ' -- ', 2 i :\ed PlaL : ' ':-----;i:-_2 TotaL ' 295: ; 56: 2, : Figure 28. Table of Organization and Equipment: 37-mm Antiaircraft Automatir Weapons Regiment. The medium and light antiaircraft artillery regiments are also homogeneous. (The light antiaircraft artillery regiment [antiaircraft automatic weapons regiment] is discussed under tank corps.) The medium antiaircraft artillery regiment is comparable to the U. S. antiaircraft artillery gun battalion. t may be a part of an antiaircraft artillery division, or it may be independent. t consists of headquarters and headquarters battery, four 4-piece firing bat- TM teries, an antiaircraft machine gun company, and services (figs. 28 and 29). n addition to its primary mission of antiaircraft protection of ground troops and installations, it is employed for direct fire against ground fortifications, antitank defense, and, less often, for indirect fire against ground targets..heterogeneous artillery regiments include the divisional artillery regiment (fig. 4), the howitzer regiment (fig. 30), and the medium gun regiment (fig. 3). (Organization and missions of the divisional artillery regiment are outlined in the discussion of the rifle division.) The howitzer regiment consists of headquarters and headquarters battery, three firing battalions, and services. ts missions are outlined in the discussion of the howitzer brigade. 0 d 0 -<i:l 0 w.c -< W U -< -< Unit a s a -<..c:: = S - s a ::::: r-!- > <:> <C :_--;--5 - < "0 as 0,-.: t-.= 00 W -2- Ren PlaL 2 2 _ Topo PaL _ Sig PlaL i 35 i Engr PlaL i SupSeL----i 7' 7 i Btrys ' AAMG Btry 90 57, iif: ; i:: :. }2: ::: TotaL-----i620l454iU ;--2-3 la Figure 29. Table of Organization and Equipment: 85-mm Antiaircraft Artillery Regiment The medium gun regiment consists of headquarters and headquarters battery, three battalions, and services. Two of the battalions are armed with 52- mm gun-howitzers, and the third with 22-mm guns. Missions of this regiment are the same as those of the medium gun brigade. c. Artillery battalion. The basic organizational and tactical element of the artillery arm is the battalion. The artillery battalion generally consists of headquarters and headquarters battery, three firing batteries, and an ammunition train. The headquarters battery has reconnaissance, signal, topographic, and fire control units comprising between 50 to 65 officers and enlisted men. ndependent artillery battalions have sufficient maintenance, repair, and service personnel to effect first and second echelon repairs and to carry one unit of fire and one refill of fuel for its subordinate units. Artillery battalions which form a part of larger artillery units D-23

29 34 90 ' TM Mar 46 a a a ad a a o a -2 ad ad a::e a a..c:l Unit ",",";lr>::: o ::E ::E..:... & > '0 t:: "'" rn <ern <e < Nfl..!:: 0.._ '" ;q apns -=-T--- oo_ Political StL _ 3 '_ Sup StL _ 5, _ Hq YPlaL _ '! - R;cn Plat Slg Plat ; P====== i i ===== :======:========== -=== ==== ==== ==== Sup Sec i 7 7 7! ! mm Bns 48 : mm Bn 24 ' j rd,frahp======= g g ==================:======:====== l'=='==== g;!t-}: :_ i,_t : ---::'-:-::UitT-2_:: :::: TataL 06, \ 24\ 2 73 i Figure 30. Table of Organization and Equipment: 22-mm Howitzer Regiment, Motorized. (regiments and brigades) do not have maintenance and repair personnel. Their supply train carries onehalf of a unit of fire. Artillery battalions which form a part of a formation of combined arms also have no service and maintenance personnel. Their ammunition platoon carries only one-third of a unit of fire. There are two basic types of artillery battalions: the 2-piece (fig. 32), and the 6-piece battalion (fig. 33). The light guns and light and medium howitzers are organized into 2-piece battalions. The 22- mm and 52-mm motorized howitzer battalions differ from the 76-mm gun battalion (fig. 32) only in having greater personnel strength and the addition of 22 tractors and 6 trailers. The 22-mm howitzer battalion has 346 officers and enlisted men; the 52- mm howitzer battalion, 359. The medium guns, medium gun-howitzers, and heavy guns and howitzers are organized into six-piece battalions. The 22-mm gun battalion and 203-mm howitzer bat- Unit i j J_J_rJJ _J : li*cts:ff_-===='ll : _ ====== =====_ ====== ====== ====== ==== ==== :_ ==== ==== ==== UJJgy=========== = = _ ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== ==== ==== :_ ==== ==== ==== Hq PlaL Rcn PlaL Topa PlaL Sig PaL AA Plat! Sup Sec mm G/How Bns mm G Bn Med PlaL i _ Ord Wk Shop Qm Wk Shop Trans PaL Sup Sec Tota lm Figure 3. Table of Organization and Equipment: MeJium Gun Regiment. -24

30 Mar 46 tali on differ from the 52-mm gun-howitzer battalion (fig. 33) only in the size of the gun crews. Over-all strength of these battalions is 248 and 296 officers and enlisted men respectively. ::s <0 ::s ::s E-< H 0 -< C Unit 0 s s s s :5 s - 8 S S 8 t.l t:: c::. ::s c::. c::. J, S X!... 0 <0 <:l <:l <b E-<.:..: t...= t...= t- E-< Bn Hq & StL HqBtry RcnSec _ SiSec Btrys Am PlaL i--- Sup S = iiiil Figure 32. 'd X! Table of Organization and Equipment: 76-mm Gun Baualion, Motorized. The 2-piece battalion may be homogeneous or heterogeneous. The heterogeneous battalion has three batteries, two of which are armed with the same weapon, and the third with a companion piece to this weapon. Soviet artillery doctrine considers the following weapons to be supplementary or companion pieces: 76-mm gun and 22-mm howitzer. 22-mm howitzer and 52-mm howitzer. 52-mm gun-howitzer and 22-mm gun. 203-mm howitzer and 52-mm gun. The last two pairs of companion pieces are not generally found in the same battalion. Rather, they are combined in mixed regiments. TM Mortars and rockets are a part of the artillery arm. The heavy mortar battalion, a part of a mortar regiment, consists of headquarters and headquarters battery, which has the same organization as the headquarters battery of the artillery battalion, and three 6-piece firing batteries. Mortar battalions seldom have service troops. The provisional mortar battalion of the rifle division is formed from three heavy mortar batteries of the rifle regiments. The 82-mm mortars of the rifle battalions are organized into companies with nine medium mortars each. The M-3 rocket battalion forms a part of the tank, mechanized, and cavalry corps, and of the ::s <= ::s ::s ::::: H 0- Unit 0 8 S - 8..::: S 0 t.l :5 c::. > t:: ::s c::. X!.....d 'd c <:l <:l <:l X! 0 E-< t...= t...= t...= : Hq and StL 9 Hq Btry: Hq Sec Rcn Sec Topo PlaL_ , Sig Plat Sup Sec Btrys Am PlaL 9 5 JO Sup ;:::: '-i,,-,; 7s + Figure 33. Table of Organization and Equipment: 52-mm Gun-Howitzer Baualion, Motorized. rocket regiment. t is a balanced organization consisting of headquarters and headquarters company, two rocket batteries with four multiple launchers each, and ammunition and maintenance platoons. NOTE.-Figures in parenthesis are approximations. Figure 34. Table of Organization and Equipment: Cavalry Corps. -25